Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Another shocking blow to Premier Christy Clark - her Chief of Staff Ken Boessenkool has resigned effectively immediately over a "personal incident".

Ken Boessenkool

Premier Christy Clark

Boessenkool has been replaced at least temporarily by veteran bureaucrat Dan Doyle, reports the Vancouver Sun's Jonathan Fowlie.Boessenkool's resignation letter talks about "hurting his family" and another's in the "incident of concern" which sources tell me involved Boessenkool's conduct in a drinking establishment.MORE ON BOESSENKOOL RESIGNATION - HIS STATEMENT:

"Premier:

Earlier this month I was involved in an incident where I acted inappropriately.

I was wrong, regretted my behaviour very much and immediately and unconditionally apologized.

Notwithstanding my genuine apology and sense of regret, and following my meeting with you earlier today I tender my letter of resignation as your Chief of Staff effective immediately.

This will give me a chance to return to Calgary to be with my family - who I have also let down - and from whom I have been separated on a weekly basis for most of the last eight months.

I have been very proud to be at your side and proud of what I helped the team accomplish.

Nothing should stand in the way of your successful leadership and the accomplishments of your government in creating jobs and making family life affordable.

20 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Boessenkool also works for Harper and lobbies for Enbridge. He was placed in with the BC Liberals. Gordon Campbell was given a drunk charge, he didn't resign. He was so drunk, he was driving on the wrong side of the road. Harper even rewarded Campbell for doing his dirty work for him. So, why Boessenkool would resign is a mystery?

Once again Christy blows the call. Her Chief of Staff resigns. Instead of being upfront about why, she cites confidentiality and instead lets the entire country speculate about the reason and how the BC Lieberals are self-destructing. Way to go Christy! Another good call......

The Socred/BCLibs know they can't win the next election. That is why Christy Clark is premier. The boys won't give up one of their own. Exactly the same as Kim Campbell. What we are now seeing are the rats jumping a sinking ship. I hope they are all caught in a whirlpool & sucked down to watery graves.

Problem is, after the NDP are in for a couple of terms, they will also become arrogant & so will be turfed in turn. This is a ridiculous charade. A change of rulers is a joy of fools. —Jerry Eberts (hi Bill)

At this point it doesn't really matter, he has resigned. People don't need to speculate, its rude. It might have been better if he had resigned immediatley. Obviously living away from his family has not helped his personal life & that is what it is at this time, his personal life.

As others have pointed out, there is a double standard as a few weeks ago the health ministry workers were hung out without concerns for privacy regarding details and circumstances and yet here there is concern for privacy.

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.